LETTERS FROM PARIS. 449 



bled together, and 'thoufands, without redemption, 

 be buried under its ruins. 



The view of Paris from an eminence is therefore the 

 more majeftic. There are three main points from 

 whence the city may be feen in its length and breadth, 

 for being convinced of its moiiftrous extent. The 

 neareft to the city is the hill of Montmartre. On the 

 top of it is a round terrace in the centre whereof Hands 

 a windmill. From hence, to the right and left, as fat 

 as the eye can reach, one fees roof on roof, gable on 

 gable, and the loftieft fteepies look like chimnies 

 ftriking up from this enormous roofing. No ftreet is 

 to be difcerned, no fquare to be known, no palace to 

 be diftinguifhed. It is one irregular furface of bricks 

 apparently furrounded by an immenie terrace, and 

 through which a ftream has been conducted that 

 might be croffed at a moderate leap. You look down 

 upon the whole before you, quite as far as the Seine ; 

 and beyond this, it rifes again in the form of an 

 amphitheatre. It is bounded on all fides by riiings 

 and eminencies of various heights, on which are wind- 

 mills, country-feats and woods, but a part of it entirely 

 bare and fterile. There can be but one fuch profpedl 

 in all the world, fince there can only be one Paris in 

 the fore-ground. 



Henry the fourth frequently came hither to enjoy 

 this curious profpeel:. Once, looking at it between 

 his legs that he might give the whole a more perfpeelive 

 effecT:, he exclaimed in a fallie of his ufual good hu- 

 mour: Que je vois de nids de cocus I His fool, or 

 jerler, named Gallet, directly put himfelf in the fame 

 attitude, and called out : Sire, je vois le Louvre ! 



vol. i. g q The 



